Trending...
- Spokane: Call for High School Artists: 2026 Riverfront Park Poster Contest
- Tuckwell Machinery Expands CNC Range to Support Australian Cabinet Makers
- Spokane: Armed Barricaded Subject Causes N. Market St To Close
Cpl N. Briggs #1177
SPD uses less-lethal tools to take violent suspect into custody downtown
On 03-23-21 just before 6:30PM, SPD responded to the area of Riverside and Main regarding a possible stabbing. A distressed 911 caller stated that a male was armed with a knife, had tried to stab them, and was currently "coming at" them.
The investigation revealed that the suspect approached two strangers after over-hearing their conversation. The suspect inserted himself into the discourse, for unknown reasons quickly became incensed, and then began threatening the victims with a knife. The victims were not injured.
SPD officers quickly converged on the area and were able to locate the suspect on Howard St between Main Ave and Riverside Ave. The suspect was still armed with a knife and refused multiple directives to relinquish it.
SPD was faced with a perilous situation; moments ago the suspect had attacked a random stranger without provocation. The suspect was still armed and in the potentially congested downtown corridor. Ensuring the safety of the innocent public was responding Officers' primary concern. Officers also wanted to maximize the chance for a peaceful resolution. With those two goals in mind, multiple SPD resources were utilized to contain the area and bring in specialty personnel and equipment. On-duty SWAT resources as well as a Hostage Negotiation Team member responded to try and negotiate a peaceful resolution.
More on Washingtoner
Officers and the negotiator attempted to convince the suspect to drop the knife and surrender for approximately a half-hour. The suspect continued to act erratically and refused to put the knife down. The suspect then turned and began walking away from police. Given the extreme risk the suspect posed to the public it was determined the suspect must be promptly apprehended. Multiple less-lethal tools, including an SPD K-9, were utilized to apprehend the person.
This situation was difficult for officers to mitigate due to the uncooperative, armed suspect and the populated setting. While Officers would of preferred the person had complied and therefore force would not have been needed, the availability of less-lethal tools and advanced training meant a potentially lethal encounter was resolved with minimal injury.
The suspect was identified as 31-year-old Jonathan Casto. In addition to this incident, Casto was wanted on a Department of Corrections warrant stemming from a different felony assault situation. Casto will be booked on his warrant and the new charge of Assault 2nd Degree (additional charges are possible). Casto is an eight-time convicted felon including two previous convictions for felonious assault and two for criminal mischief with a deadly weapon. Casto told officers that he had recently used methamphetamine.
SPD uses less-lethal tools to take violent suspect into custody downtown
On 03-23-21 just before 6:30PM, SPD responded to the area of Riverside and Main regarding a possible stabbing. A distressed 911 caller stated that a male was armed with a knife, had tried to stab them, and was currently "coming at" them.
The investigation revealed that the suspect approached two strangers after over-hearing their conversation. The suspect inserted himself into the discourse, for unknown reasons quickly became incensed, and then began threatening the victims with a knife. The victims were not injured.
SPD officers quickly converged on the area and were able to locate the suspect on Howard St between Main Ave and Riverside Ave. The suspect was still armed with a knife and refused multiple directives to relinquish it.
SPD was faced with a perilous situation; moments ago the suspect had attacked a random stranger without provocation. The suspect was still armed and in the potentially congested downtown corridor. Ensuring the safety of the innocent public was responding Officers' primary concern. Officers also wanted to maximize the chance for a peaceful resolution. With those two goals in mind, multiple SPD resources were utilized to contain the area and bring in specialty personnel and equipment. On-duty SWAT resources as well as a Hostage Negotiation Team member responded to try and negotiate a peaceful resolution.
More on Washingtoner
- L2 Aviation Earns FAA STC for Thales AVIATOR 200S for Boeing 777
- Women-Owned Business Platform SmartPath Launches to Help Entrepreneurs Build with Confidence
- FinIQ Edu Launches High-Impact Workshop Vertical to Close the Workplace Benefits Gap—Drives 82% Surge in 401(k) Participation Intent
- HousingWire launches Mortgage Rankings, bringing a data-driven benchmark to originator performance
- J&J Exterminating Reminds Residents to prepare for Termite Swarm Season
Officers and the negotiator attempted to convince the suspect to drop the knife and surrender for approximately a half-hour. The suspect continued to act erratically and refused to put the knife down. The suspect then turned and began walking away from police. Given the extreme risk the suspect posed to the public it was determined the suspect must be promptly apprehended. Multiple less-lethal tools, including an SPD K-9, were utilized to apprehend the person.
This situation was difficult for officers to mitigate due to the uncooperative, armed suspect and the populated setting. While Officers would of preferred the person had complied and therefore force would not have been needed, the availability of less-lethal tools and advanced training meant a potentially lethal encounter was resolved with minimal injury.
The suspect was identified as 31-year-old Jonathan Casto. In addition to this incident, Casto was wanted on a Department of Corrections warrant stemming from a different felony assault situation. Casto will be booked on his warrant and the new charge of Assault 2nd Degree (additional charges are possible). Casto is an eight-time convicted felon including two previous convictions for felonious assault and two for criminal mischief with a deadly weapon. Casto told officers that he had recently used methamphetamine.
0 Comments
Latest on Washingtoner
- Surging Into Hyper-Growth Mode With Record Revenue, Raised 2026 Guidance, and Game-Changing AI Platform; Off The Hook YS (NYSE American: OTH)
- Mom Creators Coalition Launches with WaterWipes® as Official Founding Sponsor
- Middle World Herbs Expands Botanical Skincare with a Unique Herbal Deodorant
- PandaGuarantee Launches Rent Guarantor Service in New York City
- The $112M Marketing Lesson Joe Whyte Learned: Why 'More Traffic' Is the Biggest Lie in Digital Marketing
- Daniel Kaufman Expands Kaufman & Company Real Estate Platform With New Acquisitions, AI-Driven Industrial Development and Nationwide Growth Initiative
- Tacoma City Council Member Kristina Walker to Share Sound Transit Updates During March 31 Study Session
- Peony Massage Spa Kirkland Offers 50% Off First Visit – Licensed ABMP Member Serving Kirkland, Redmond & Bellevue
- purelyIV Launches Lab Testing Services in Metro Detroit
- Spokane Police Arrest Two At Saturday's Protest
- On the 296th Anniversary of the Ceremony That Made His Ancestor Emperor, a Cherokee Descendant Publishes the Novel That Restores Him
- NRx Pharmaceuticals Could Be on the Verge of a Breakout Year as AI, FDA Catalysts, and Mental Health Demand Converge
- DC Accounting Firm Offers Free Business CRM to Small Business Clients Alongside Weekly Bookkeeping Model
- CCHR: Psychiatric Drugs Fuel Rising Death Toll: National Adverse Drug Event Awareness Day Confronts America's Medication Crisis
- Explosive $10 Billion Counter-Drone Market with AI-Powered Defense Ecosystem: ZenaTech, Inc. (N A S D A Q: ZENA)
- High-Value Execution Phase Begins: Bitcoin Bancorp Ignites Texas Rollout of Digital Asset ATM Network: Bitcoin Bancorp (Stock Symbol: BCBC) $BCBC
- Tacoma: Homicide Investigation – 100 block of east 91st Street
- UK Financial Ltd Tokenized LTNS 1, A $1.1 T Asset-Backed ERC-3643 Security Token with 11 On-Chain Contracts Verifying, Compliant Real-World Value
- SelfCare is now HealthCare across America
- State of TBM 2025 Report: 83% of Organizations Boost Performance & Efficiency